Britain's 20 friendliest places to live

All across the country, as a survey by comparethemarket.com
has just revealed, we are so reserved that three quarters of us would not
think about making an effort to get to know our neighbours if we moved to a
new area.Yet there are some places, from Cornwall to the Orkneys, where good
neighbourliness is habitual, where people greet each other with a smile and
seize any excuse for a street party .The building blocks of friendly
communities are many and various: pubs ; churches; amateur dramatic
societies; schools; fish-and-chip shops. Choosing the friendliest areas is
necessarily a subjective exercise. But here is a round-up of 20 relaxed,
easy-going places where one could feel confident of a warm welcome.

1 Keswick, Cumbria

If terriers and poodles had a vote, Keswick would be the runaway winner as
Britain’s Friendliest Town. In 2012, the popular Lake District tourist
centre scooped the Open for Dogs prize in a competition run by the Kennel
Club. Just turn up with an Irish setter called Bob and you will be treated
like royalty. Two-legged visitors also get a pretty warm welcome. The local
Borrowdale stone might have a blue hue, but the town is a ros y example of a
community that relies on tourism without becoming cynical and acquisitive.
Solid, double-fronted properties and Victorian terraces make up most of the
housing stock.

On the market Ten-bedroom house with spectacular lakeside views, near
the heart of Keswick. £2.25 million withCarter
Jonas.